Ambassador Haley: US will utterly destroy North Korean regime in war

Last night, the US warned the UN Security Council that North Korea’s latest missile test has brought “the world closer to war.” US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley also sent a direct threat to Pyongyang, saying that “the North Korean regime will be utterly destroyed” if the two countries go to war.

The UN Security Council convened on Wednesday night for a special discussion regarding the latest North Korean missile launch. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley warned that the isolated state’s recent actions have brought “the world closer to war” and issued a direct threat to Pyongyang: “If war comes, make no mistake, the North Korean regime will be utterly destroyed.”

Haley added that her country is not interested in an armed conflict with North Korea but clarified that Washington will not hesitate to respond if need be. “We have never sought war with North Korea, and still today we do not seek it,” she said. “If war does come, it will be because of continued acts of aggression like we witnessed yesterday.”

The US ambassador also urged the countries that still have relations with North Korea to sever them. “Yesterday’s missile launch was more advanced than previous launches,” she explained. “No one can doubt that this threat is growing. No one can doubt that North Korean dictator is getting more aggressive in his obsession for nuclear power.”

Haley added that US President Donald Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the efforts to end North Korea’s aggression. During the conversation, Trump urged his Chinese counterpart to stop delivering oil to North Korea. “That would be a pivotal step in the world’s effort to stop this international pariah,” she stated. “China must show leadership and follow through. China can do this on its own, or we can take the oil situation into our own hands.”

The new missile Photo Credit: Reuters/Channel 2 News

During the special meeting, the Russian ambassador called on Pyongyang to refrain from conducting additional ballistic missile and nuclear tests. The Moscow representative also urged South Korea and the US not to carry out the planned joint military drill for next month, claiming that it could further escalate the high tensions.